Official: Denis Suarez joins Arsenal on a loan deal

LEON, SPAIN - OCTOBER 31: Denis Suarez of FC Barcelona in action during the Spanish Copa del Rey match between Cultural Leonesa and FC Barcelona at Estadio Reino de Leon on October 31, 2018 in Leon, Spain. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Barcelona have announced that Denis Suarez has agreed on a new contract and will now join Arsenal on loan for the remainder of this season.

The 25-year-old midfielder has cut a frustrated figure at Camp Nou this term after failing to make a single start in La Liga for Barcelona.

In total, Suarez has made eight appearances for Barcelona and he’s added two goals and one assist in his four Copa del Rey outings.

Therefore, Suarez was keen to leave Barcelona before tonight’s transfer deadline in order to reunite with his former Sevilla boss Unai Emery on a loan deal at Arsenal.

But due to the Gunners’ reluctance to buy him at the end of the season, Barcelona stalled Suarez’s move to North London to open negotiations over a new contract.

The Catalan giants, who had announced Suarez’s loan move on Thursday before removing the statement from their website, have now confirmed the Spaniard has signed a new deal until June 2021 and will join Arsenal on loan.

This preserves Suarez’s transfer value should Arsenal opt to not sign him permanently this summer.

“FC Barcelona and Denis Suárez have reached an agreement for the extension of the player’s contract with the club, which ended on 30 June 2020, until 30 June 2021,” read a statement on the club website.

“FC Barcelona have also agreed on a loan deal for Suárez with Arsenal for the remainder of the 2018/19 season. The Premier League club will pay the player’s salary during this time and the agreement includes an option to buy.”

The Spanish playmaker spent the early stages of his career at Celta Vigo and Manchester City before joining Barcelona in 2013.